Automatic piano.



.PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

R. A. RODESGH.

AUTOMATIC PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11. 1905.

2 SHEEIS-SHBET PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3- A. RODESGH. AUT-UMATIG PIANO. 1

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11. 1905.

UNITED sTATEs; PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. RODESCH, or DIXON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNQR To RODESCH PIANO AND PLAYER 00., A CORPORATIONOF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC PIANO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Maren 26, 1907.

Application filed September 11, 1905. Serial lie- 277.814-

.To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that 1, ROBERT A. RoDEson, a citizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of Dixon, in the county of Lee and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and .useful Improvements in. Automatic Pianos, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to that class of automatic piano-players in which a pneumatically-actuated playing mechanism is controlled by 'a traveling perforated musicsheet or like controlling means; and the present improvement has for its various ob--' jects, first, to provide a simple and effective arrangement and connection of the operating mechanism for convenient application to an ordinary upright piano without requiring anychange in the form, dimensions, or appearance of the same, all as will hereinafter more fully appear and be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

; Inthe accompanyin drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sectiona elevation of an'upright piano having the present improvements applied. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front ele vation of the upper part of the piano, illustrating the arrangement of the tracker- .board, Inusic-sheet-c'arrying mechanism, &c.' Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical section' illustrating the present arrangement of the action-keys and their operating or motor, pneumatics'and primary neumatics. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating the primary neumatics in the position op osite to that illustrated in Fig. 3.

Simi ar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referringto the drawings, 1 represents the rear frame of an upright piano, upon which the sound-board and string-plate are mount-' rail 8, and bottom board 9, as well as the other minor parts usual to an upright piano.

10 are the action-keys, mounted in any usual manner on the key-table 2 and having operative connection with the usual pianoaction 11, such action comprising the usual series of hammers, their throwing-jacks,roc k ers, back-catch springs, trip devices, martingales, and lift-bars, as well as the connecting-pivots for said parts.

12 is the manuallyactuated exhaustpump of the pneumatic playing mechanism, arranged in the lower part of the piano-casing immediately to the rear of the screenboard 7 of such casing, as shown in Fig. 1. Such pump may be of any usual construction, the bellows form shown being preferred in that it .can'be arranged for convenient actuation by the pedal-lever hereinafter described.

13 is the collapsible exhaust equalizing or accumulating chamber of any usual form, communicating with the exhaust-pump andadapted tb equalizethe exhaust action of such pump, or a pair of such pumps, when two are used to create the exhaustaction of the playing mechanism. The upper end of this exhaust-equalizing chamber is shown at the lower part of Figs. 3 and 4 of, the draw- In s.

J l4 is the exhaust chest or chamber of the playing mechanism, communicating with the upper end of the exhaust-equalizing chamber aforesaid and arranged in an upright position immediately above said chamber and behind the screen-board 7 in the preferred arrangement of parts illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. i

15 are the primary pneumatics arranged in the exhaust-chest 14 and adapted for actuation bythe music or controlling sheet act' ing in conjunction with the individual openings of the tracker-bar, as hereinafter more fully described. 4 I

v 16 is a secondary exhaust chest or ,chamb'e'r extending forwardly from the up'perend of exhaust chest or chambewld. Such secondary exhaust-chest is arrangedjimmediately'.

beneath the key-table 2 andpreferablyat tached to the underside of the same. I

17 are the series of operating or motor neumatics which, actuate the" action-keys 10 in the automatic operation ofthe piano'.- In the present construction such motof-pneu the key-table adapted to conceal the maties ,have their lower and fixed members I mountet'l' rigidly upon forward extensions at l the front side of the secondary exhaustchest 16, while the main bodies of their movable members are connected in a direct mannor by vertical pull connections 18, preferably of a pliable material, such as leather, with the action-keys, and so that in the ordinary actuation of the action-keys by a player i the pull connections, are free to yield and not otfer any impediment to the normal and free movement of said act-ionkeys. By the l tlfUlQStliti. arrangement of parts the points at l which the vertical pull connections 18 are atl tached to the action-keys correspond with l the normalv points atwhich the keys are j struck by the player in the actuation of the instrument. The result of Sttt'lt arrangement is that the tone produced'in the automatic operation of the instrument very closely approaches the tone produced in an ordinary actuation.

With avlew to afford a compact arrangement of parts the fixed member of each motor-pneumatic is arranged in an inclined direction-upon the forward extension of the secondaryexhaust -chest 16. as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that when each movab met her is in any expanded condition it will" have a horizontal position immediately beneath the key-table 2, approximately parol lel with the action-keys, so that the motorpneumatic will occupy a minimum amount of vertical space beneath said key-table.

19 is a depending bar at the front end of forward ends of the motor-pneumatics from view and protect them.

20 are vertical orifices in the key-table for the passage of the vertical pull connections aforesaid.

21 is the carrying-frame of the trackerj board, take-up and rewind rolls and their usual accessories. In the construct ion shown such frame is arranged in the upper portion of the piano-casing to the rear of the upper j front board 6 of such casing and is 1nade vertically adjustable, so that when the hinged cover 5 is thrown back the said frame can be raised above the top of the piano in a conven ient position to display to the operatorthe music or controlling sheet as it passes over the tracker-board. The vertical adjustment of said :frame is attained by'mechanism hereinafter described. i

"32 is the trackei board of any usual con- 1" struction, carried by the frame 31 Such 1 tracker-board will have the usual series of l passages, which in the present construction j are connected by a series of flexible pipesor ducts 23 with a corresponding series of pas- 1 sages in the end trunks 24, hereinafter de- 1 scribed, the series of passages in said end l trunks connecting in turn by pipes or ducts gaging the 25 -\vith a corresponding series of passages in the exhaust-chest it, which contains the series of primary pncumatics before referred to.

26 is the take-up rollfa nd ZT the rewindroll for the controlling-sheet .28. Such rolls are arranged at opposite sides' of the trackerboard and are adapted to guide and move the controlling-sheet 28 over the openings or passages in said tracker-board, as usual in the present type of self-playing pianos, and

to this end a suitalzle spring or other usual motor.(not shown) will be connected to a pulley 29, carried by the frame 21, and-have operative connections with said rolls. In the preferred construction of the said rolls, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the holdingcenters 30 at theinner ends of the rolls l6 and 27 are adapted to yield under the influence of the spring 31 to permit of'a limited longitt'idinal adjustment of said rolls in etl'ecting an adjustment of the controlling sheet 28 with relation to the trackei lmard. 7

32 is a yoke member having an adjust ment in the frame 21 longitudinally with the rolls and adapted to afford bearings for the operating-shafts 33 and I-H of said rolls. Such yoke is adapted to have endwise bearing against the adj accnt ends of the rolls, so as to resist the end thrust of the same due to the spring 31, before described.

is an adjusting screw and nut by which adjustment. is imparted tothc yoke ZSZ longitudinally withthe rolls.

36 are depending rack-bars at the respective ends of the frame 21, moving in suitable guides formed in the board or rail 37, hereinafter referred to, so that said barswill guide said frame in a vertical direction.

38 is a spring-roll journaled on the board or rail 37 and provided with pinion's 39, en- 7 aforesaid rack-bars136, the arrangement being such that the'spring tension of the said roll will counterbalance the weight of the frame 21 and the parts mounted thereon, so that the said frame will remain in any vertical adjustment at which it may be placed by the operator. A

The end trunks 24, before referred to, are located at opposite ends of the interior ofthe iano-casing and at opposite sides of the cheeks 4t), fixed in the interior of the pianocasing, and provided with a' series of passages eorresponding with the series of passages in said end trunks, so that the passages in both parts \vill register -when in proper relative position. The series of passages in said cheeks communicate. in turn with the series of pipeso'r ducts 25, before referred to.

As illustrated in Fig.2, the end trunks 24 are carried by the board or rail 37, hcrctofore referred to, and the'arrange'ment is such that said trunks "24,1 the board 37, the tracker-board, the take-up and rewind rolls,

chamber by a, horizontal seam or joint, as.

shown. In like manner the secondary'ex haust-chest 16 is made separate from the main exhaust-chest 14 and is attached to the 4 top of said main chest by a horizontal seam or joint, as shown, such" seam or jointsbeing common to the pneumatic portions of automatic musical instruments of the present class;

The parts above referred to will be secured by the usual means to the piano-casing in the usual detachable manner in order that'said parts, as well as the other parts of the selfplaying mechanism, can be easily removed when desired without any change in the exterior appearance of the piano-casing to indicate that such change had been made, and

in like manner the aforesaid parts can be applied to the piano-casing without any change in the exterior. appearance of the same. The combination and arrangement of the tracker-board, take-up and rewind rolls, and their accessories, just described, are claimed in my companion applications, Serial'Nos. 32s,,401 and 328,402, filed July 30, 1906. The primary pneumatics 15 and their containing-chest 14'are of the usual -construc' tion and in detail will comprise a structural formation of follows:

- 42 IS a duct or passageconnecting at one each individual pneumatic, as

end with thepipeor duct 25,.which is in communication withtrunk 24, and tubes 23, leading to a passage of thetracker-board .22. Said duct 42 at its other end has communication with the interior of, a primary pneumatic 15 by a large opening 43 and with the interior of the exhaust chamber or chest 14 by a restricted opening 44, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

45 is a duct or passage connecting the exhaust chest or chamber 14 with the motorpneumatic 17.

. 46 is an opening-or passage by which coinmunication is had between the exhaustchamber 14 and the duct 45 aforesaid, and 47 is an opposed opening or passage by which the'duct 45 has communication with the atmosphere.

48 is a valve-head carried by the .movable member of the primary pneumatic .15. Such valve-head is arranged between the respec- 'tive (Zpenings 46 and 47 and in'one position of sai pneumatic is adapted to open the duct 45 ofthe motor-pneumatic to the exhaust-- chamber 14 and in the other and normal po sition of the primary pneumatic to open said duct 45 to the atmosphere.

49 is a connecting duct or passage between the exhaust-chamber l4 and the eXhaustequalizing chamber 13 of the manually-actuated eXhaust-pum of the mechanism.

The operation 0 the parts j ust described is the tracker-board closed by the controlling music-sheet 28, the air in the duct 42 and primary pneumatic 15*is e -hausted'into the exhaust-chamber 14 through the passages 43 and .44, so that said primary pneumatic will assume its normal collapsed condition.

With said'pneumatic so collapsed the valvehead 48 is in a position to close the opening or passage 46 between the exhaust-chamber 14 and the duct 45 of the motor-pneumatic '17 and 0 en the passage 47 between said duct 45 an the atmosphere to permit the motorpneumatic to assume its normal expanded condition, With the aforesaid passage in the tracker-board opento the atmosphere through a registering perforation in the controlling music-sheet air passes into the duct 42 and through the large opening 43 into the interior of the primary pneumatic 15 to expand the same. WVith a consequent move ment of the movable member of said primary pneumatic the valve-head 48 is shifted from the position heretofore described into a position in which it closes communication between the duct 45 of the motor-pneumatic and the atmosphere through passage 47 and opens the passagef46 between the exhaust chamber 14 and the duct 45'tocause a in id collapse of the motorpneumatic 17 an a corresponding movement of the action-key 10; to operatethe iano-action to strike the iano-string. W'it scribed operations under the control of the perfor'ationsof the traveling controlling- 'sheet 28.

50 is the pedal-lever for actuating the exhaust-pump 12 of the pumpin mechanism, In the present construction suc lever is provided with a depending arm 51intermediate of its length,- by which it is pivoted to the bottom board 9 of the piano-casing by suitable pivot-brackets, asshown in Fig. 1. The forward end of said .lever projects through the bottom-front rail 52 of the piano-casing for operative engagement bythe'foot of the operator, while the rear end of such lever is formed with an upward and angular extena completion of such est-mentioned operations the parts are ready for a fresh cycle of. the heretofore-detoo sion 53, the free end of which is operatively connected-by a link 54 to the movable member of the exhaust-pump 12, as shown. Such 7S as follows: l/Vith the passage or opening in,

construction is adapted to afiord a very compact and efiicierit arrangement of parts, whereby the operation of the exhaust-pump can be effected in a very easy and convenient manner.

The consl motion. and arrangement of treadle-lever and exhaust-bellows just deseribed are claimed in my companion application, Serial No. 328,403, filed July 30,1906.

Having thus fully described-my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by lietters Patent, is-

1. In an automatic piano, the combination of a pianowasing, action-keys, a supporting key-table, motor-pneumatics, having :movable members approxinfately parallel with the action-keys, and arranged below said table, pull eonnm'tions extending in a direct manner between the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motor-pnm:matics, and means,for automatieally operating said motor-pneumatics.

2, In an automatic piano, the combination of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supporting key-table, inotor-pneumatics, having movable members approximately parallel with the aetioiukeys, arranged below said table and attached to the under side of the same, pull eonncctions extending in a direct manner between the outer ends of the keys and the mainbodies of the movable members of tho motonpneumatics, and means for automatically operating said motor-pneumatics.

3. In an automatic piano, the'combination of a piano-casing; action-keys, a supporting key-table, motor-pneumatics, having mov able members approximately parallel with the action-keys, and arranged below said table, pull connections of flexible material connecting in a direct manner the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motor-pneumatics, and

means for automatically operating said motor-pneumatics.

4. In an automatic piano, the combination.

of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supporting key-table, motor-pneumatics, having movable. members approximately parallel -with the action-keys, arranged below said table and attached totheunder side of the same, pull connections of flexible material connecting in a direct manner the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motor-pneumatics, and

means for automatically operating said motorefpneumatics.

5. In an automatic piano, the combination of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supporting key table, mpt orpneumatics, having movable members approximately arallelfwith the action-keys, and arrange below said table, pull connections extending in a direct manner between the outer ends of the keys and the main'bodies-o'f the movable members at the motor-pneumatics,-.primary neumatics controlling the motor-pneumatics, and means ling the primary pneumatics.

6. Inan automatic piano, the combination of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supporting key-table, motor-pneumatics, having .mov-

the action-keys, arranged below said table and attached to the under side of the same, pull' connections extendin in a direct manl l l able members approximately parallel with her between the outer ends of the'keysand the main bodies of the movable members of the motorneumatics, primary {Pneumatics controlling the motor-pneumatics, and means.

for moving a traveling music-sheet controlling the primary pneumatics.

. ,7. In' an automatic piano, the combination of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supporting key-table, ,motor-pneumatics, having movable members ap roximately parallel with the action-keys, an arran ed below said table, pull connections of flexible material connecting in a direct manner the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motor-pneumatics, primary pneumatics controlling the motor-pneumatics, and means for moving a traveling music-sheet controlling the primary pneumatics.

' 8. In an automatic piano, the combination of a piano-casing, action keys, a supporting key-table, -motorneumatics, having movable members approximately parallel with and attached to the under side of the same, pull connections of flexible material connecting in a direct'manner the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motorneumatics, primary neumatics controlling the motor-pneumatics, and means for moving a traveling musicsheet controlling the primary neumatics.

9. In an automatic piano, the combination of a p1anocas1ng, action-keys, a sup orting said table, the movable members ofsaidmotor-pneumatics having a position approxil mately parallel .with the action-keys, and the l lixed members of said motor-pneumatics having an inclined position, pull connections extending in a direct manner between the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motor-pneulnatics, and means for automatically operating said motor-pneumatics.

10. In an automatic piano, the combination of a piano-casing, actionkeys, a support in key-table, motor-pneumatics arranged be ow said table and attached to the under side of the same, the movable members of said motor-pneumatics having aposition approximately parallel with the action-keys,

and the'iixed members of said motor-- neumatics having an inclined position, pull connections extending in a (irect manner be tween the outer ends of the keys and the for moving a traveling music-sheet controlkey-table, motor-pneumatics arrange below main bodies of the movable members of the motor-pneumatics, and means for automatically operating said motor-pneumatics.

' 11. --In an automatic piano, the combination of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supporting key-table, motor-pneumatics arranged below said table, the movable members of said motor-pneumatics having a position approximately parallel With the action-keys, and'the fixed members of said motor-pneumatics having an inclined position, pull connections of flexible material connecting in a direct manner the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motor-pneumatics, and means for automatically operating said motor-pneumatics. 12. In an automatic piano, the comb1nation of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supporting key-table, motor-pneumatics arranged below said table and attached to the under side of the same, the movable members of said motor-pneumatics having a position approximately parallel with the action-keys,

and the iixed members of said motor-pneumatics having aninclinod position, pull connections of flexible material connecting in a direct manner the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motor-pneumatics, and means for automatioally operating said motor-pneumatics.

13. In an automatic piano, the combination of a piano-casing, action-keys, a support-- ing key-table, motor-pneumatics arranged below said table, the movable members of said motor-pneumatics having a position approximately parallel with the action-keys, and the fixed members of said motorneumatics having an inclined position, pul connections extending in a direct manner between the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motorpneumatics, primary pneumatics cont-rolling the motor-pneumatics, and means for moving a traveling music-sheet controlling the pri-' mary pneumatics.

14. In an automatic piano, the combination of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supportingakey; table, motor -'pi1eumatics ar-' ranged below said table and attached to the under side of the same, the movable members of said motor-pneumatics having a position approximately parallel with the actionkeys', and the fixed members of said motorpneumatics having an inclinedposition, pull connections extending in a direct manner between theouter ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motor-pneumatics, primary pneumatics conmatics controlling the motor-pneumatics,-

and means for moving a traveling musicsheet cont-rolling the primary pneumatics.

16. In an autoinatic piano, the combination of a piano ca'sing, action-keys, a supporting key table, motor pneumatics arranged below said table and attached to the under side of the same, the movable members of said motor-pneumatics having a position approximately parallel with the action-keys, and the fixed members of said motor-pneumatics having an inclined position, pull c9n nections of flexible material connecting in-a direct manner the outer ends. of the he s and the main bodies of the movable mem ers of the motor-pneumatics, primary pneumatics controlling the motor-pneumatics, and means for moving a traveling music-sheet controlling the primary pneumatics.

17. In an automatic piano, the combina- *tion of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supporting key-table, motor-pneumatics, having movable members approximately parallel with the action-keys, and arranged below said'table, pull connections extending ina direct manner between the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motor-pneumatics, primary pneumatics arranged within the interior of the piano-casing and controlling the motorpneumatics, and means for moving a travelmg music-sheet controlling the primary pneumatics.

18. In an automatic piano, the combination of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supporting key-table, motor-pneumatics, having movable members approximately parallel with the action-keys, arranged below said table and attached to the under side of the same; pull connections extending in a direct manner between the'outer ends of the keys and the main bodiesof the movable members of the motor-pneumatics, primary pneumatics arranged Within the interior of the piano casing and controlling the motor-pneumatics,-

and means for moving a traveling-music-.

sheet controlling the primary pneumatics.

19. In an automatic piano, the combination of'apiano-casing, actionkeys, a supporting keytable, motor-pneumatics, having movable members approximately parallel with the action-keys, and arranged below said table, pull connections of flexible mate rial connecting m a direct manner the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable mem ers of the motor-pnenm atics, primary pneumatics arranged withinthc inmotor-pneumatics, and means for moving a traveling music-sheet controlling the primary pneumatics.

20. In an automatic piano the combination of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supporting key-table, motorneumatics, hav ng ately parallel movable members approxim with the action-keys, arranged below said table and attached to the under side oi the same, pull connections of flexible material connecting in a direct manner of the keys and the main bodies of. the movable members of the motor-pneumatics, primary pneumatics arranged. within the interior oi the piano-casing and controlling the motor-pneumatics, and means for moving a traveling music-sheet controlling the primary pneumatics.

21. In an automatic piano, the combination of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supporting key-table, motor-pneumatics arranged below said table, the movable members of said motor-pneumatics having a position approximately parallel with the actionkeys, and the iixed members of said motorpneumatics having an inclined position, pull connections extending in a direct manner between the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motor-pneumatics, primary pneumatics arrangedwithm the interior of the piano-casing vand controlling the motor-pneumatics, and means for moving a traveling music-sheet controlling the primary pneumatics.

22. In an automatic piano, the combination of a piano-casing, action-keys, a supporting key-table, motor-pneumatics arranged below said table and attached to the under side of the same, the movable members of said motor-pneumatics having a position approximately parallel with the actionkeys, and the fixed members of said niotorpneumatics having an inclined position, pull connections extending in a direct manner between the outer ends ofthe keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the mothe outeifends tor-p'neumatics, primary pneumatics ar i ranged within the interioroi' the piano-cas- 1 ing and controlling the motor-pneumatics, i and means for moving a traveling musicsheet controlling the primary pneumatics.

23. In an-automatic piano, the combina l tion of a piano-casing, porting key-table, motor-pneu1natics ar ranged below said table, the movable n'ioinbers of said motor-pneumatics hav1n g a p osi tion approximately parallel with the actionkeys, and the fixed members of said motorpneumatics having an inclined position, pull connections of flexible material connecting l in a direct manner the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the ,movable members of the motor-pneumatics, primary pneu matics arranged Within the interior of the pianocasing and controlling the motor-pneumatics, and means for moving traveling music-sheet controlling the primary pneul matics. I l 24. In an automatic piano, the combinal tion of a piano-casing, actioi'nkeys, a supporting key-table, motorpneun1atics arl' ranged below said table and attached to the 1 under side of the'same, the movable 111C111- bers of said motor-pneumatics having a position approximately parallel with the actionkeys, and the fixed members of said motorpneumatics having an inclined position, pull connections of flexible material connecting in a direct manner the outer ends of the keys and the main bodies of the movable members of the motor-pneumatics, primary pneumatics arranged within the interior of the piano-casing and controlling the naotor-pneumatics, and means for moving a traveling music-sheet controlling the primary pneumatics.

Signed at Chicago,

Illinois, this 30th day of August, 1905.

v ROBERT A. RODESCH. Witnesses: 4

ROBERT BURNS, l M. II HOLMES.

action-keys, a sup' 

